By Dan Hust
LIBERTY — November 28, 2003 – With the necessary approvals and permits in hand from the Village of Liberty, Ideal Snacks is getting ready to expand to more than twice its current size.
The company, located at the corner of Routes 55 and 52 in Liberty’s business corridor, is planning to add a 104,600-square-foot structure to its existing 62,000-square-foot plant – along with 75 full-time jobs.
The site plan filed with the village shows the three-story building occupying a 1.37-acre space between the current facility and Liberty Lanes, with road frontage along Route 55. Owners also plan to add a parking lot with a walkway to the complex and are reportedly purchasing a portion of Liberty Lanes’ property.
“They’re making a substantial investment in Sullivan County,” said Industrial Development Agency (IDA) CEO Allan Scott. “It’s a huge project.”
The IDA has assisted the food production company since it first moved to Liberty three years ago, and apparently business has been strong enough to warrant this new building, which Village of Liberty Building Inspector Pam Winters said would “mirror” the existing facilities.
Scott said his understanding is that the new building would house more equipment and personnel needed to meet the demand for the company’s food products.
Ideal Snacks President Zeke Alenick did not return a call for comment, but Director of Operations L.J. Goldstock confirmed that growth in the company’s business has led to this project, and he indicated that even more growth is to come.
Ideal Snacks makes soy- and rice-based snack foods both under its own name and for companies like Quaker Oats and Frito-Lay.
“We’re extremely excited to be helping with this expansion,” said Scott. “They’re great people and good employers.”
The IDA will temporarily hold the lease and also offer several tax breaks to the company, so it must hold a public hearing on the project. That hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on December 24 in the Village of Liberty Hall’s Meeting Room at 167 North Main Street.